Wireless coverage within East Hampton Village, or the lack of it, was on the village's board's agenda Friday.
"Right now, our village code, and our zoning code specifically, lacks any regulations pertaining to wireless facilities," Billy Hajek, the village planner, told the trustees. "We've been able to get by without it, but as the population increases there's going to be more demand for wireless facilities."
Board members agreed to hire a consultant, City Scape, to study the situation. City Scape is already working for the town on the same question, and some of the information they've gathered for the town can be duplicated for the village. The firm makes sure that local governments' wireless guidelines are consistent with federal and state statutes, via site reviews, master planning, and help with lease negotiation.
City Scape will take an inventory of existing sites and identify potential dead spots. Using census data, it will determine how many people live in a square mile, to calculate how much new capacity is needed, how many sites, and where. Public workshops will be held to understand what the community wants in terms of infrastructure. If the current code creates any "barriers to entry," the firm will suggest updates.
Right now, said Mr. Hajek, "There's no pending requests for wireless facilities. We have received inquiries, but nothing has been formally submitted yet."
"We have some dead areas," said Mayor Larsen.
"I think this is important because my phone doesn't work anywhere," said Christopher Minardi, the deputy mayor.
"It's a safety issue too, so we have to get that fixed," agreed Sandra Melendez, a board member.
City Scape will be paid $17,700 for its services.
